IRISH-trained horses had some notable successes in the last week, not least through Cougar Mountain in the Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket. A sizeable defeat of the likes of Gifted Master and Amazing Maria reads well, for all that the resulting timefigure was an underwhelming 95.

Cougar Mountain is talented on his day – and deserves extra credit here for coming from behind in a steadily-run race – perhaps never more so than when a running-on third to Solow in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015.

But if anyone can predict when that day will be for Cougar Mountain they are a better person than me. This was just his third win and came at 15/2 in a field of only six.

The Happy Prince is a different kettle of fish, a tough and consistent performer – at least of late – if a rung or two below the top level. He gained his first major success in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, though the race was no better nor worse than an average Group 3 and the four-year-old’s 100 timefigure is some way below his 110 peak.

The best two timefigures of the week actually came in the Betfred Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket, with the winner, Spark Plug, running a big 120 timefigure and Carry On Deryck posting 116.

The former should be capable of winning in lesser group company, but “should” may be the important word there. His waited-with run style means that a big field and a strong pace probably brings the best out of him and he has failed twice in small-field listed races already this term.

Another big handicap timefigure came at Pontefract last Thursday week, when Memorial Day ran to 113 in winning by eight lengths under a big weight. This stiff course can exaggerate margins but that time suggests that is not the case here. A listed race at 10-12 furlongs seems the obvious next step for the lightly-raced Godolphin gelding.